Donald Trump’s endorsement appeared to be detrimental once more as the New England Patriots faced defeat, losing the Super Bowl 13-29 to the Seattle Seahawks shortly after the team’s owner met with the President.
Robert Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots, was seen with Trump at the premiere of the documentary film Melania on January 29, 2026, just a week before Super Bowl LX commenced.
Although President Trump did not specifically endorse a team this year, even the brief interaction seemed sufficient to trigger what is often referred to as the President’s ‘curse,’ where his recent support has frequently led to unfortunate outcomes for sports teams.
Engaging with Trump so close to the Super Bowl was a gamble for Kraft, especially considering the president’s unfavorable track record in selecting winners during the first year of his second term.
Kraft, who notably contributed $1 million to Trump’s re-election campaign, emphasized his longstanding relationship with the President during the premiere.
However, Kraft might now be reconsidering this recent interaction, especially after witnessing the Patriots’ resounding loss in this year’s thrilling NFL final.
In a similar vein, back in November, the Commanders suffered a defeat against the Detroit Lions, losing 44-22 on November 9, shortly after receiving public backing from Trump.
The Yankees also experienced the so-called Trump curse, facing a significant defeat by the Toronto Blue Jays in the ALDS series 3-1, after being visited and cheered on by Trump.
This pattern was echoed at the Ryder Cup, where Trump’s visit to Bethpage Black aimed at bringing fortune to Team USA, but instead, Europe triumphed over their American counterparts.
One of the most notable instances occurred in February of the previous year when Trump confidently predicted a victory for the Kansas City Chiefs at Super Bowl LIX.
Believing Patrick Mahomes would secure a win, Trump told Fox News, “I guess you have to say that when a quarterback wins as much as he has won, I have to go with Kansas City.”
This statement soon turned into a setback for the team, as the Philadelphia Eagles emerged victorious with a score of 40-22.
Trump also inadvertently affected the outcome of the 4 Nations Face Off NHL final between the USA and Canada that year, as Canada claimed victory just hours after Trump had provocatively suggested annexing Canada as the 51st state.